A new challenge awaits the off road racing fraternity with the first running of the Human Auto 400 in the Bloemfontein area of the Free State this weekend. It is also the penultimate round of the Absa Off Road Car Championship and the Barden Tyre Services Racing team of Thomas Rundle and Juan Mohr (Nissan Navara) is aiming to turn around its disappointing season so far.
With only one points-scoring result in five earlier rounds – a third place in the Sun City 400 in July – it’s not been the kind of season the experienced pair was expecting. The new Free State event, which brings the tough and exciting world of national championship off road racing to the door step of this province’s many fans for the first time, provides the perfect opportunity for the Barden team to rectify matters.
“We’re more determined than ever to get a good result on this weekend’s event,” said Rundle. “We started the new season with great expectations after acquiring the ex-factory Nissan Navara that took Duncan Vos and Ralph Pitchford to last year’s title. Unfortunately we’ve had a variety of problems that have prevented us from realising our and the Nissan’s full potential, but we intend to remedy this in Bloemfontein on Friday and Saturday.
“With just two rounds of the championship remaining, we have to make the most of these opportunities to get results, score some points and finish the season on a high note.
“We know the Nissan is more than capable, which we’ve demonstrated in the previous events.” Rundle and former national co-drivers’ champion Mohr came close to winning the Sun City 400 in July, leading until two punctures dropped them back to a season’s best third. They followed this up with a good performance in the early stages of the Mega World 400 in August, running second behind eventual winner Vos until slowed by an overheating engine. They were in touch with the leaders in last month’s Toyota Kalahari Botswana 1000 Desert Race until sidelined with engine problems.
“The team has worked hard since then to prepare the Nissan for this round and we are confident we have done everything we can to mount a competitive challenge this weekend. We’re not short of enthusiasm, determination and pace; we just need a little good luck and a trouble-free run in the Free State,” said Rundle.
While Barden Tyre Services is the principal sponsor, the team also enjoys a mutually beneficial relationship with other partners and suppliers like Dunlop tyres, Autozone, Hausberger and Associates, Maxwell Design and Advertising, Willard batteries and Cedar Chem.
– Credit: Peter Burroughes Communications.